Who we are, the United States and the Russian Federation . I dont want to blame anyone for the Current Situation in russianamerican relations, but today is the First Official remarks by me as an ambassador for the Russian Federation to the United States. [applause] amb. Antonov i am not a magician. I want you to stop killing in chechnya. Stop killing gay people in chechnya. I want gay people left alone in chechnya. We need to protect gay people. Stop killing gay chechnyans. Stop killing gay chechnyans. Stop killing gay chechnyans. Stop killing gay chechnyans. [applause] [crowd noise] amb. Antonov you can see our relations are complicated. It seems to me everybody has the right to explain what he wants. How he can see how he sees the Current Situation. It seems to me i also have the right to convey a few remarks to you, trying to explain how we in the Russian Federation understand the Current Situation in russianamerican relations. I would like to explain to you how we understand the importance of russianamerican relations. I dont want to offend anyone. I would like to be candid with you. I would like to be transparent with you. I hope there will be another opportunity for me to come here. I hope i will not disappoint you and you will invite me once more. [applause] amb. Antonov they will be official remarks and then i will be ready to discuss any issue, including what i heard from that guy. Over the recent years, the russianamerican relations have suffered severe degradation and are far from good shape. Unprecedentedith to discredit russia in an effort to punish our country for protecting its interest in pursuing independent policy. Regrettably, relations between our countries are still being politicized and abused. Russia is being Graham Leslie groundlessly accused of meddling into the United Statess elections, and other domestic and external problems of the United States. The expulsion of Russian Diplomats, seizure and search of our diplomatic property, along with the removal of state flags of the Russian Federation, infringement of rights of the russian media, all these actions are destroying the foundation of the russianamerican federation. The russian threat is constantly used as a pretext to strengthen the solidarity which takes forms of military planning. A clear example is all the hype around military exercises in 2017 conducted by russia and belarus in september. We were accused of preparing for invasion of the baltic countries for occupation of ukraine. There were rumors that once the exercise was over the Russian Troops would remain in belarus. None of this happened. It was all fake news. [crowd noise] however, the United States, canadian, german and british contingents which were pulled up under the pretext of this have stayed and are still there in the proximity of the russian borders. Comments are unnecessary. The fact we are not welcome at the u. S. Congress, a place where all kinds of commissions and investigations on socalled russians this year take place speaks for itself. Members of the Russian Parliament reached out on multiple occasions to their american counterparts with an invitation to visit moscow or to meet in the United States. No reaction followed. By the way, i have not succeeded in arranging a meeting at the capital either. It is very strange for me. There is no opportunity for Russian Diplomats to explain how we understand the Current Situation in the United States, how we explain the relationship and the russianamerican federation to congress. They dont want to speak or maybe they are scared to speak to me and my colleagues. But how it is possible to construct bilateral relations. It is impossible to create anything without conversation, without dialogue. The logical outcome of this kind of policy is unfortunate. The heavy burden of mutual distrust and missed opportunities of pragmatic preparation. We cannot attempts to put pressure on us and resolve the right to decidedly respond the hostile actions. The russian side, however, does not seek confrontation. If open to improving the bilateral dialogue, it can only be achieved if relations are built on equal and mutually respectful you will see that before my departure to the u. S. , i visited senior ministers of the russian government. I would like to send this message to you, that they would like to promote good relations between the United States and the Russian Federation. Mr. Putin has received me on the eve of my departure to the United States, and what message i have from him is that we need pragmatic, equal relations between the United States and the Russian Federation. One should not forget that russia and the United States, as permanent members of the Un Security Council and the Largest Nuclear powers, there a special responsibility for maintaining global peace and security. Therefore, despite all negativity, we should not shut off from one another. Not look back at the past, but rather follow the Strategic Vision of our common goals. It is clear the russian and United States interests intertwine when it comes to the fight against global terrorism. There is a context within the russian and United States president s on the sidelines of the asiapacific summit in vietnam, in a joint statement of syria that our countries need each other. They are coordinating their efforts to defeat isis and achieve a stable political settlement in syria. We are united in necessity to address the challenge of nonproliferation of weapons of mass distraction. The fact that we have not reduced our efforts to resolve the Iranian Nuclear program and to destroy syrias chemical weapons despite our strong disagreements over the ukrainian crisis speaks volumes. Today, developments surrounding north korean Nuclear Program are quite serious. In this regard, i would like to emphasize that russia, as well as the United States, does not accept the Nuclear State of north korea. We have consistently advocated the denuclearization of the korean peninsula, but this issue can only be settled through a negotiated solution by diplomatic means. It would be inadvisable to test the strength of the north korean leadership and provoke a rash countermeasure. Russia is committed to the joint comprehensive plan of actions on the Iranian Nuclear program as a successful example of knopfler for asian and an essential factor of regional stability. We consider it important for the participants of the plan to remove existing differences from the agenda for negotiations without reconsidering the agreement itself. It is evident, should the plan fail, it would be an alarming signal for the whole or to National Security system, including resolving the Nuclear Problem of the korean peninsula. The issue of strategic stability and arms control was and continues to be one of the key problems in russianamerican relations. The key points in russianamerican relations. Our bilateral relations have never been suspended, even given the most intense period of the cold war. Over the past 50 years, joint efforts of both countries resulted in the creation of a legal base for the modern system of interNational Security. Therefore the russianamerican cooperation has a crucial impact on key global processes. It is one of the pillars of the current world order. With that said, we consider the intent of the russian and United States president s to develop a best develop relations in the spirit of balance of interest and search for a beneficial agreements to be highly important. And search for mutually beneficial agreements to be highly important. Which was confirmed in a recent telephone conversation between Vladimir Putin and donald trump. Our countries need to restore a broken means of communication. It is hardly possible to agree on anything through remote and minimal contact with one another. Lack of communication leads to tog from a mutual growing, mutual distress, especially in the political circles of the United States which has made an unflattering image of russia. This suggests our american counterparts to resume functional dialogue between our security council, defense agencies, intelligence services, members of parliaments. At the same time we should get rid of everything artificial which burdens our population, our cooperation, removing multiple irritants and bilateral relations. The most sensible topic is the return of the diplomatic property, which was seized from us. It is a paradox, as we have not only been deprived of our property, but not even allowed to check the buildings. What possible threats to the threats to do the ambassadors visit to our compounds cause to the United States security . We still get a negative answer. To enter russian property, russian buildings, nobody cares to specify the reasons. What we heard from the state department is just only, you have no permission to enter russian property. It would be important to establish a joint working group on Cyber Security in order to dispel doubts regarding who interferes where, what was the goal and was intervention really happening, or was this just idle speculation . So far, the american sides failed to provide any evidence. We are just being told the United States cannot present the facts because there is a classified information. That way, one can come up with any charges so as to avoid speaking to the point. Cultural and humanitarian ties, as well as social context that helped strengthen Mutual Understanding and trust among our citizens are of great importance. This area is less exposed to political environment, and it is definitely expected to bring positivity to bilateral relations. Our common history is one of the topics that brings the two nations together. This year, we are celebrating many milestones. Nobody is talking about it, but i would like to mention the 210th anniversary of establishing the russianamerican diplomatic relations. 200th anniversary of the arrival of the russian fleet in hawaii. 150th anniversary of the agreement to purchase alaska. The 80th anniversary of the legendary flight of the crew from moscow to vancouver. Washington state. Our priority is to lay out economic groundwork for the russianamerican relations, which would secure them from irregularities of the political atmosphere. The volumes of bilateral trade and investments do not meet the economic potential of both countries. The trade volume never surpassed the modest sum of 40 billion. In 2016, it was 20 billion. I would likeime, to emphasize, despite sanctions, we host about 3000 American Companies with almost 180,000 employees and 75 billion worth of aggregate assets in russia. On a regular basis, the American Companies confirm they have no intention of leaving russia. Extra proof is the unprecedented success of the International Economic forum held in june 2017, during which the United States delegation managed to set an attendance record of 556 representatives from 140 companies. Thats a quarter of all companies registered at the forum. It was highly important to present positive aspects of the russianamerican relations during the current complicated political circumstances. It consumes arctic science and space expiration. American astronauts fly our soyuz spacecraft. Russianmade rd180 engines are being acquired by the u. S. To deliver payloads for nasa and the pentagon. Furthermore, the rd181 engine is used to deliver cargo to the International Space station. There are plans for joint implementation of largescale projects that could serve as communication to the International Space station. In september 2017, Russian Space agency and nasa signed a statement on cooperation in creating the deep space gateway lunar station. One could say, in space, we cooperate better than on the ground. Russia effectively implements the mega grants program, attracting leading foreign scientists on research and scientific rate through in our country. Over the six years of the work, 160 worldclass laboratories were created with plenty of grant recipients being american scientists have moved back in their days. The ties between russia and america across the Pacific Ocean were always unique. Starting for the russianamerican company and its activities in alaska, to the settlement of russian pioneers in california, from the Second World War land lease program, in particular with nearly 8000 airplanes and ships moved from montana through alaska. To the oil and gas fields. The latter have forever changed the fate of the far east and transformed the russian islands into one of the leading Energy Suppliers of the asiapacific region. California has taken a major place in the relations between our two countries. We have the Chevron Corporation working for a long time in russia, along with transnet as the operator of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium to deliver kozak oil to the seaports. 1990s, the Oil Machinery of the Caterpillar Company supplying large Construction Machinery and equipment to the Russian Far East. Thousands of employees from russia work in the flagship hightech companies in silicon valley. Cisco, microsoft, google to name a few. The russianamerican Pacific Partnership has been active for more than 20 years. It is a unique platform for dialogue, which brings together officials and businessmen in the regions of the Russian Far East and the United States west coast. The state of california is among the leaders of the bilateral interregional cooperation. Over the past years it has established contact with republican of kazakstan. This is mostly due to the efforts of the states current leadership, governor jerry brown, who in september posted the Economic Forum in vladivostok to get acquainted with the economic potential of russia and the far east. Dialogue, a bilateral for initiating political and business circles, taking place in United States and now with russia, as well as place as well as plays increasing role in developing ties between the regions of russia and the United States. It has proven itself to be an important and formal platform for dialogue and development over positive bilateral agenda which are countries desperately need. Agenda, which our countries desperately need. In conclusion, i would like to remind you that this december marks the 210th anniversary of diplomatic ties between russia and the united dates. Back in 1787, american president Thomas Jefferson wrote to the russian Emperor Alexander i. I am certain that russia is the most friendly nation to us. The russian president Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated we are not picking fight with the United States, and have always had a positive attitude towards the American People. When we stood together, we always achieve success. That is how it has happened during the american war of independence, the first and Second World Wars. We honestly want the bilateral political atmosphere normalized. I genuinely hope we will not remain hostages of each others own prejudice. We cannot allow mutual complaints to undermine our ability to effectively respond to the measured security challenges of the 21st century. Thank you very much. [applause] join us for the most interesting part of our conversation. [laughter] thank you very much for those remarks and for laying out the whole agenda of cooperation, potential cooperation between russia and the United States. Amb. Anatov not only potential. History of our relations, the current status of our relations and the potential. Mr. Holloway potential. Yes, but we are at a point where relations between our countries are probably in worst states and states and